The European Union has condemned in the strongest possible terms Russia's latest wave of missile and drone attacks against Ukraine, which it says have inflicted a devastating toll on civilians and caused serious damage to civilian infrastructure. In a statement delivered at the OSCE Permanent Council on 16 July 2026, the EU noted that repeated large-scale strikes have hit densely populated residential areas in Kyiv, Sumy, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv and other cities, contributing to what the United Nations has described as the highest verified monthly civilian casualty toll since the early months of Russia's full-scale invasion. The EU also expressed deep alarm at Russia's continued targeting of humanitarian and medical facilities, citing specific attacks on hospitals, ambulance stations, and a Red Cross warehouse in early July, and referencing a Médecins Sans Frontières report that documents what it calls a deliberate strategy to destroy the medical system.
The statement, published by the EEAS on 17 July 2026, reiterates the EU's call for Russia to end its war of aggression immediately, agree to a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire, and engage in meaningful negotiations towards a just and lasting peace. It also urges all countries to cease any assistance to Russia's war effort, and strongly condemns the deployment of DPRK military forces as well as continued support from Iran, Belarus and the DPRK. The EU reaffirmed its commitment to a comprehensive peace grounded in international law and the UN Charter, stressing that no settlement rewarding aggression can be durable. It noted that the latest restrictive measures, together with the upcoming 21st sanctions package, will add 250 individuals and entities to the sanctions list targeting Russia. On accountability, the EU pointed to findings from the Moscow Mechanism report on indoctrination and militarization of Ukrainian children and an ODIHR report, calling on Russia to implement recommendations and facilitate the safe return of all deported children. It also repeated its call for the immediate release of unlawfully detained civilians, including three OSCE staff members. The statement was aligned with Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Republic of Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, San Marino, and Ukraine.